Helen Mizzeni - My MPTA Story

1.Where did you grow up and what are some of your earliest memories of playing tennis?

I grew up at Coghill’s Creek and first remember playing tennis at school in Grade 5 at Clarendon College. I started playing competition with Learmonth Presbyterian Club when I was around 12.

2. When did you first play tennis at the Association? And who got you involved?

I married into the Lawrence Tennis Club, with my husband Robert getting me involved! So I would have been around 22. One of their team members moved to another Association so they needed another player, and they always commented (mischievously) that this was the reason that Robert married me, to have that extra lady for Lawrence!!

3. Describe yourself as a tennis player?

I was a pretty average tennis play but was lucky enough to play with good players. I always played with Beth Huntly and Elizabeth Cosgrave, who were both really enjoyable to play with.  

4. What are some of your highlights from your playing days?

I was always lucky playing in a good successful club – we played in 13 Grand finals in a row and won 8! But Country week was my highlight. What I loved about it was that we got to play with the players that you used to actually play against. I was lucky enough to win quite a few Country Week premierships, and we sure did celebrate those wins!!

5. How have you found the social aspect of the Association over the years you played?

It was just amazing, we would all arrive at tennis in the morning for juniors, go home for lunch, and then be back again for senior tennis that started around 1:15pm. At 6:45pm, the bell rang and we were to finished the game we were playing and then all the kids would then run out on the courts to play, while we went to get fish and chips for tea, and got home at all different hours of the night. And many members arriving home late to milk cows!

6. What do you enjoy most about playing tennis on the grass courts?

The grass courts were always lovely to play on, especially when it was hot. The facilities overall were great, and complemented the courts, which made it such a lovely place to play tennis at!

7. Who have been some of the most enjoyable players to play with? And can you recall any funny stories from one of your matches?

I remember playing an Easter tournament against Joan LaFranchi on the back courts and we were having a great game laughing and not taking things too seriously. And then all of a sudden, in the office they noticed that there was no talking or laughing anymore, so they thought that maybe things had got close and it had started to get serious!!! But I don’t remember who won!! I always just played tennis for fun and loved it.

8. Your family has also played at Mt Prospect, what are some of your favourite family memories

with tennis?

The first time I played with my son Gareth was at an Easter tournament in the mixed sets. I can’t remember if we won or not, but I loved it. I never played tennis with Robert (husband) – we were in the same team, but didn’t necessarily pair up with each other. Robert was always the Number 1 and I was always the Number 3. I can remember playing with my daughter Raquel in our Lawrence A1 team, and then she was a chef, so she went off to work on the weekends and didn’t play anymore.

When the kids were older, I really enjoyed playing in the A Reserve team with all the junior kids coming up like Larelle and Desley Cosgrave. They had the legs to run and we had the experience to teach them about Senior Tennis – I really loved these times!

9. What do you think draws people to playing tennis at the Association?

The grass courts and overall facilities, and the social side and people involved!